Repeal the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021
- 10 Signatures
It is my view that the legislation is in violation of the European Convention of Human Rights and Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948, fails the compatibility criteria with the said legislation, and is not fit for purpose.
This legislation will never face scrutiny by the courts and requires immediate repeal for the good of Scotland. Its intentions may have been good but the law the Scottish Government created is foul and frankly impossible for the police to enforce.
The UK Government repealed S.225 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 exhibiting maturity and common sense when legislation is errant. The Scottish Government should do the same.
In England, Scotland, and Wales, it's not illegal for someone between the ages of five and 17 to drink alcohol at home or on other private premises. But this does not mean it is recommended. The best advice for young people's health and wellbeing is an alcohol-free childhood.
It was brought to my attention by Police Scotland and social services that children are allowed to consume alcohol from age 5 in their home or private premises.
There is a focus to increase the cost of alcohol to help tackle problems. Scotland has issues with many adults abusing alcohol. I believe this situation doesn't help. We need to support our children to make the right decisions and not hide behind loop-holes in the law but instead change them.
Provide essential investment in the Gaelic language to secure its future
- 607 Signatures
Investment in Gaelic development creates jobs, particularly in marginalised rural and island communities, and has a positive impact across numerous policy priorities.
Two panels of Government appointed experts estimated in the early 2000s that to fulfil its obligations Bòrd na Gàidhlig would need an annual budget of £10 million. It has only ever received around £5 million per year, which has never risen in line with inflation.
Gaelic community development is chronically underfunded and suffers real-terms cuts year on year. This comes against a worsening trend of language-shift in the island and rural communities and insufficient support nationally. We face the very real threat that Gaelic will cease to exist as a community language.
If Bòrd na Gàidhlig's initial budget had increased in line with inflation it would have reached between £8.5m and £10m for 2024/25. Even that increase would leave it below the level recommended in the early 2000s.
If the Scottish Government, and Parliament, are serious about securing Gaelic's future then investment in it must be brought to adequate levels.
Review and update the Scottish Ministerial Code
- 7 Signatures
I think the changes set out above would strengthen public standards in Scotland.
Through a statutory code (which Northern Ireland and partly Canada has), a First Minister (FM) would be unable to not have a Code.
Through self-initiated investigations by the IA, a FM could not block such investigations.
A statement in Parliament would enable an explanation as to why a FM has not taken the IAs advice.
The IAs should be able to offer their views on any potential short-comings of the Code itself so to improve it.
The IAs title gives an impression of judicial involvement which is misleading.
Ministers making public oaths would improve public confidence in adhering to it.
I also recommend the following reports which are useful reading:
* [Upholding Standards in Public Life – Published Report] (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/upholding-standards-in-public-life-published-report)
* [Institute for Government | Updating the ministerial code] (https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/report/updating-ministerial-code)
* [UK Governance Project – final report] (https://www.ukgovernanceproject.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Governance-Project-Final-Report-31.1.24.pdf)
Improve the public consultation processes for energy infrastructure projects
- 2,256 Signatures
Communities across North East Scotland have serious concerns about the quality and transparency of the public consultation accompanying SSEN Transmission’s East Coast 400kV Phase 2 project.
SSEN’s engagement with communities has been rushed, and insufficient effort has been made to understand and communicate the full impact of the proposals to impacted communities. There have been inconsistencies between information presented in SSEN’s published material and their contact with community representatives. Many affected residents were unaware of the plans and it has fallen to local campaigners to raise awareness.
These concerns have had a detrimental impact on the wellbeing of residents, who are worried about their health, businesses, property value, cultural heritage, and the loss of prime agricultural land.
The Scottish Government must use all available levers to improve the public consultation processes for energy infrastructure projects and ensure they are carried out with the consent of the affected communities.
Stop More National Parks in Scotland.
- 2,131 Signatures
Using the two existing National Parks (NPs) in Scotland as examples:
Over 10 years each new NP will cost the Scottish taxpayer £130m. Inappropriate use of money when public finances are weak. The new NP, will be bureaucratic, employing 100+ people, with a paid board of approximately 20, mostly unelected, directors.
The NP will not help with the major issues that already exist in rural Scotland, i.e. roads, medical services, schools needing urgent investment. In areas such as Skye & Lochaber, Small & Western Isles, there is already over-tourism in the summer period and poor road & ferry networks. A NP will only make this problem worse. The Scottish Government requires the local communities to be keen to have a new National Park in their region. It is felt locally that fewer than 10% of local people near Lochaber are engaged. At public meetings, radio phone ins, the response to press articles, & social media engagement the vast majority of people are not in favour of another National Park in Scotland.
We are a Children's Mental Health Charity who work with families whose children are on waiting lists for CAHMS for anything up to 2 years. This significantly affects their child's education as they refuse to attend school or when they do they struggle and are unable to concentrate or engage.
We believe that access to a CAHMS worker and a nurse in secondary schools will allow children to be identified early when they are struggling with their mental health, and have referrals completed correctly and efficiently. They could also link in with the local primary schools and early education facilities, as early intervention for our children's mental wellbeing is key.
Pass a law making exercising a dog in a cemetery an offence
- 263 Signatures
I am a father who lost his 3-year-old son in 2020. We live opposite where our son is buried and visit his grave at least once a day. Whilst visiting my son’s grave, my family have witnessed up to 100 people exercising their dogs daily with dogs being let off-lead or on long leads, resulting in them urinating and defecating on graves, including that of my own son, and damaging teddies left by the public.
I have approached dog walkers to explain my issue. Most of the time I have been met with hostility and even threats of violence.
We witness some dog walkers driving to the cemetery, obviously from another area, just to exercise their dog.
Pre-Covid the Edinburgh Council rule was no dogs apart from assistance dogs.
We feel this is not enough of a deterrent, and a law is needed with an exception for dogs with mourners and assistance dogs.
Review the council tax system
- 32 Signatures
Council tax should be based on everyone using services, rather than property values. Adult children still living at home earning a reasonable income use services but don’t make any contribution.
Many of us have worked hard during our careers to provide ourselves with a nice house. However, the current level of council tax is like a mortgage that can never be repaid. I am aware of some people whose annual payment is 15-20% of their annual income.
In my opinion, the poll tax was a far better system. There were failings in how it was rolled out and most councils failed in their ability to collect from non-payers.
If the system became a per capita payment I believe this would be far fairer.
Commercial properties aren’t currently protected under property factor laws, nor is there a complaint procedure to take action against a commercial factor for failing to provide minimum service standards.
My property is an office in Glasgow, where the factor has failed to meet the minimum service standard set out in the 2011 Act. However, this Act only allows homeowners to seek a property factor enforcement order.
The roof of the building has come in and the property insurance was going to be voided. I’ve complained in writing and confirmed the factor has no contract with anyone in the building. They have no provision in the title deeds of the property, yet they continue to bill and mismanage the property.
Due to the gap in the legislation, there’s no punishment for them as the property is entirely commercial. We would only be able to get help from the First-tier Tribunal if one or more of the property occupants was residential. It’s a massive loophole that’s being exploited.